Amalgam-squeezing machine.



Pat'entd Feb. 19,1901,

AMALGAM SBUEEZING MACHINE.

COLEMAN.

(Application filed Oct. 16, 1900.)

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JAMES V. COLEMAN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,488, dated February 19, 1901.

Application filed October 16, 1900. Serial No. 83,802. (No model.)

and combination of parts, as hereinafter described and pointed out, producing an improved machine for the purpose mentioned.

The following description explains at length the nature of the present improvements and the manner in which I have constructed and applied the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a plan or top view of a squeezing-machine embodying my invention mounted for operation in a trough. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the trough-section. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the bearing for the feed-screw.

The principal parts of this machine comprise two shafts mounted in horizontally-set hearings in line with each other and provided on their opposing ends with gripping jaws or devices to seize and hold between the two shafts the edge of the straining-bag. One of the shafts is furnished with a hand-crank for rotating it, while the other shaft is either fixed in its support or is turned in the opposite direction by providing a hand-crank on the outer end, so that the twisting operation may be applied simultaneously to both ends of the straining-bag, if desired. One of the shafts has longitudinal movement in its support to feed the gripping ends of the two shafts gradually toward each other, so as to compensate for the twist produced by the ro tation of the shaft and maintain proper de gree of tension. Provision is made also for regulating the speed of the feeding movement of the shaft during its rotation.

A B indicate the two shafts, and C C the standards in which the same are mounted.

D is a slotted head on the end of each shaft, and E a clamping-screw working in a threaded socket in the head, so as to intersect the openingin the jaw and grip the straining-bag when the same is inserted in the jaw.

F is a box in the bearing and having an internal screw-thread to take the screw-threaded portion a of the shaft A. This box be ing loosely fitted in the standard is held from turning with the screw-shaft by virtue of a greater or less friction shoe or plate h so that the longitudinal feeding movement of the shaft can be varied to suit the twisting action on the cloth, and the same may be held back or caused to increase to any required extent by increasing or diminishing the pressure of the screw H upon the box.

The standards A B are screwed down to a base, which may be the bottom of the trough K, in which the washing operation is carried on, and sufficient space is provided between the two standards for inserting and removing the pan L to catch the material that is strained through the bag.

The shaft to which the power is applied is of sufficient length to extend beyond the standing rim of the trough and afiord room for the operating-crank. An additional hearing or bracket I, fixed on the standard, holds the shaft in line and prevents it from springing under the twisting operation.

A machine thus constructed will perform the labor of squeezing or straining amalgam through a straining-cloth in much less time and much more effectively than can be done by hand. The machine is also applicable for straining other material or substances through a cloth where considerable pressure is required to be applied.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A machine for squeezing amalgam, comprising oppositely-set standards, shafts supported in said standards in horizontal position and in line with each other having gripping-jaws on their adjacent ends, means for rotating and feeding forward one of said shafts, and means for regulating the forward feed with respect to the rotary motion.

2. In a machine for squeezing amalgam, the combination of a stationary jaw, a rotatable jaw set oppositely to and in line with the stationary jaw, a rotatable screw-shaft adapted to rotate and feed forward the rotatable jaw, and means for regulating the speed of the T. J. SCHUYLER, v EDWARD E. OSBORN. 

